Tejinder Singh denies Army chief's allegations, says they have caused great damage

NEW DELHI: Denying the allegations posed against him by Army Chief General VK Singh, Retired Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh told Patiala House Court on Thursday that the accusation had caused him great damage.

The statement was made during the initial court hearing for the defamation case filed by Tejinder Singh against the Army chief. Patiala House Court has taken cognisance of Tejinder Singh's petition and the next hearing will take place on April 10, 2012.

Tejinder Singh's lawyer told reporters that the case had been made under section 500 and that the press release on Army chief's allegations was unauthorised. The act was malafide he added.

Defence minister AK Antony has said that Army Chief VK Singh had told him that a bribe of 14 crore was offered by an equipment middleman but Singh didn't want to pursue the case. The Army chief had on Monday told the media that a middleman wanted him to clear a tranche of "600 sub-standard vehicles."

Responding to the furore in Parliament over the issue, Antony named Lieutenant General (retd) Tejinder Singh as the person named by General Singh.

"I have always said the truth. When General VK Singh told me about the incident, I was shocked. The Army chief told me it was Tejinder Singh who offered him the bribe but he said he doesn't want to pursue it," Antony said.